There is no evidence that Mozambique’s anti-corruption system is capable of constraining the economic and political elites who seek to enrich themselves at the country’s expense. Fortunately anti-corruption laws do not end at the border. Dozens of countries have made it a criminal offence to bribe foreign public officials. There is no doubt that some Mozambicans will seek to extract bribes. There is a small chance, however, that some foreign companies will be too scared to pay them

Transparency is increasing in Mozambique’s extractive sector. But transparency alone does not generate accountability. There is a serious risk that in the coming years we will simply know in even greater detail the scale on which the political and economic elite in Mozambique is stealing the extractive sector wealth on which the future of all our citizens depends.

Anti-corruption laws in Mozambique are weak. Enforcement of those laws is weaker still. The more serious the corruption, the more senior the offender, the more money is involved, the less likely that state institutions will investigate and prosecute.